Bad ODORS attract the vulture (beetle), perfumes repel him

Insights

Attraction to Corruption

The proverb suggests that individuals of base or corrupt character are instinctively drawn to immoral, scandalous, or negative situations, just as a vulture is drawn to a carcass.

Repulsion from Virtue

Conversely, morally corrupt individuals are repelled by virtue, goodness, and purity. They find wholesome or virtuous environments and people to be uninteresting or even offensive.

Character Reveals Itself

It implies that a person's character is revealed by what they are drawn to. One can judge a person's inner nature by observing the kinds of situations, conversations, and company they seek.

Classical and Moral Tradition

Rooted in classical observations by authors like Erasmus, the proverb uses the vulture and beetle—ancient symbols of impurity and opportunism—to create a moral analogy. This reflects a long-standing Western tradition of using animal behavior to comment on human nature.

Psychological Affinity

The proverb offers a sharp psychological insight into selective attention and affinity. It suggests that individuals are naturally drawn to environments and information that mirror their own moral or psychological state; a corrupt character seeks out and thrives on corruption, while actively avoiding virtue.

Critique of Slander

As a piece of social commentary, the proverb critiques those who delight in scandal, gossip, and the misfortunes of others. The vulture passing over 'Meadowes and flowers, to fall upon carions' is a powerful metaphor for slanderers who ignore the good to feast on the bad.

Rhetorical Devices

Antithesis

The proverb is built on a sharp contrast between 'bad odors' and 'perfumes', and the opposing actions of 'attract' and 'repel', which creates a clear and memorable moral lesson.

Symbolism

The 'vulture' and 'beetle' serve as powerful symbols for base, opportunistic, or corrupt individuals, while 'perfumes' symbolize virtue, purity, and moral uprightness.

Metaphor

The entire statement functions as an extended metaphor, using the observed behavior of animals to make a sophisticated point about human morality and social behavior.